Cushion scrubbing machine



Patented-May 2, 19 39 UNITED, STATES] CUSHION SCRUBBING MAQHINE V Victor C. Snyder, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The French Renovating Company, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Cleveland,

Application June 16, 1938, Serial No. 214,066

5 Claims.

This invention relates, as indicated,-to cushion scrubbing machines, but has reference more particularly to improvementsin the cushion cleaning' machines described in United States Patents Nos. 603,828 and 1,182,049, owned by the assignee of this application.

A primary object of the invention is to provide -a machine of the character described, which is adapted for cleaning the front and rear edges and ends or sides of the cushion, as well as the upper surface thereof.

Another object of the invention is'to provide a machine of the character described, in which the pressure of the scrubbing brush on the cushion may be easily, nicely and visibly controlled.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described, having provision for conveying dirt. and excess cleaning fluids from the object being cleaned,

A further object of the invention is to provide compactness of arrangement and easy access to all the parts of the machine.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related-ends, theinvention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particu larly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings: N

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying the principal feature of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side or end elevation of the machine, as viewed from the right of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal cross-sectional view, taken on the line 3- 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional View, taken on the line l4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional 'view, taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a, fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view, taken on the line 6-6 ofFig. 5. L

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the machine comprises a frame formed of a top, consisting of angles 1 and 2 welded together at the ends, angle legs 3 secured to the top at thecorners of the latter, reinforcing angles 4 and 5 connecting the legs adjacent their lower ends, and reinforcing angles 6 connecting the top angles l with the legs 3.

Secured to the legs 3-of the frame at their lower ends are rollers I which ride upon channel tracks or rails '8 disposed upon the floor F of the room wherein the machine is placed, whereby the frame may be bodily moved within prescribed limits in a direction transverse to the long dimension of the frame.

angles l and having legs disposed in a hori- 'zontal plane flush with the upper surface of said rectangular frame to provide a substantially flat cushion support. Secured to the angles 9 are inverted U-shaped bars l2 which form supports for the sides of the cushions and also serve as handles for facilitating movement of the cushion support frame. A similar, but shorter, barli is secured to the frame angle III, at the left end of the frame (Fig. l) and forms a support or abutment for one end of the cushion to be cleaned. The an les 9 of the cushion frame have'rotatably supported thereon flanged wheels H, which rest on the frame members I, the flanges bearing against the sides of said frame members so as to maintainthe cushion frame against displacement laterally-,while permitting said frame to be moved longitudinally along the frame members I. The cushion support thus provided is adapted only to support the cushion for cleaning the upper surface thereof.

vTo facilitate cleaning of the sides and ends. of the cushion, auxiliary frames or supports are provided, which are best shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Secured to the angle 9 at the front of the machine is a frame consisting of spaced vertically extending channel members l and a horizontal channel member l6 connecting the lower ends of members IS. The flanges of the members l5 are perforated at vertically spaced points I! for a purpose to be presently described, and the member ID has secured thereto a U-shaped bar It which forms a support for the cushion to be cleaned. The members l5 also serve as supports for another frame consisting of angles I9, 20, and 2 I, the angles Lland 2| having secured thereto plus 22, which {extend laterally beyond the frame and are adapted to enter any of the perforations II, as shown in Fig. 3, for the purpose of supporting the frame in any of a plurality of vertical positions. The frame is of a length sufficient to support a cushion on its front or rear edge.

The scrubbing or cleaning apparatus proper comprises a frame consisting of spaced bars 23 provided adjacent one end with bearings 24 in 5 which is secured a cylindrical brush 28. The bars 23 are pivotally mounted intermediate their ends on bushings or bearings 21 which are carried by 3 angles 28 secured to a supporting frame cnsist-.

ing of plates 23 and angles or horizontal supports 30. The angles 30 are secured at one end to uprights or vertical supports 3| which are fastened in any desired manner to a post or wall P of the room in which the apparatus is disposed. Struts 32, carry the supporting frame.

The bars 23 are provided at the end opposite the brush-carrying end with a shaft or bar 33, upon which is mounted a counter weight 34 for counter-balancing the brush 26 and associated elements.

Journalled in the bearings 21 is a shaft 35 driven by an electric motor. 35, which is supported by the frame members 30, and pinned to this shaft are pulleys 31 and 38.

The brush 26 is rotated by the pulley 31 through the intermediary of an endless belt 39 (Fig. and a second pulley 40 secured to the shaft 25 upon which the brush is mounted.

The brush is normally urged upwardly away from the cushion supporting frame by means of coil springs 4| and 42, which are interposed between one of the angles 39 and a lug 43 extending from one of the bars 23. A handle 44, extending from one of the bars 23' enables the brush 26 to be moved downwardly against the tension of the springs 4| and 42 and into engagement with ,the cushion to be cleaned.

For the purpose of carrying away the larger :3 portion of the fluid and dirt removed by the brush 26 in the course of the scrubbing operations, a curved shield 45 is provided, which overlies the brush and is secured at its ends to the bars 23. The shield as best shown in Fig. 4, ex

40 tends from a point in front of the brush to a I point rearwardly thereof, and is formed at these points with trough-like portions 46 and 41, closed at one end, but open at the other, and communicating at the latter end with flexible conduits gravity to any desired point.

Although the operation of the machine will be understood to some extent from the foregoing description, the operation may bebriefly de-' l l, the'cushion being confined against movement by the bars I2 and- I3. The frame is then brought under the scrubbing apparatus by conjoint movement of the frame 9-l0ll and frame l-2, and the rotating brush 26 is'brought down into engagement with the upper surface of the cushion, by manipulation of the handle 44.

Due to the counter-balancing of the brush by the weight 34, and the action of the springs 4| e5\and 42, the pressure of the brush against the cushion may be very accurately controlled by the operator and adjusted in accordance with the nap of the cushion covering, and other requirements'. In this way, the finest and most delicate 70 fabrics may be cleaned or scrubbed without in- 48, whence such fluid and dirt is removed by upper surface uppermost, on the frame 9, III and the directionindicated which are journalled the ends of a shaft 25 to I theunder surface of the shield 45, flowing into the trough-like portions 46 and 41 of the latter, and thence into the conduits 48 and a receptacle (not shown) into which the conduits discharge.

It may be noted, at this point, that'the speed of the brush is maintained constant in all positions of the brush, since the drive shaft of the 'brush is also the aximabout which the brusharrangement.

After the upper surface of the cushion has been cleaned, the cushion is set on its side on the frame I9'20-2i, which may, be adjusted to any desired height, depending upon the depth of the cushion, and in this way the front and rear edges of the cushion may be scrubbed. After these edges have been scrubbed, the cushion may be set on end on the bar It, and in this way the ends or sides of the cushion may be scrubbed. In cleaning the ends of the cushion, the frame l920-2l may be removed from the frame l5--I6, or, if desired, the frame i92il2l may be retained in position thereby providing support for the front and rear edges and upper surface of the cushion during the scrubbing of the ends. By tilting the cushion upon the bar l8, the corners of the cushion may be properly positioned for cleaning.

Where anelectric motor directly driving the brush, the shaft 35 may be driven by belting (not shown) through the intermediary'of the pulley 38.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.-

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

' 1.1a a cleaning machine for car seat cushions and the like, the combination with a horizontally arranged rotary brush, 'said brush being movable in a'vertical direction, of a frame movable transversely and longitudinally relatively to said brush, said frame comprising a horizontal section adapted to receive and support a cushion flatwise with its upper face in a plane suitable for engagement by vSilid brush and a vertical section adapted to receive and support such cushion edgewise with the upper edge thereof in approximately th''same plane as its upper face is thus supported by said horizontal section.

2. In a machine of the character described, a substantially fixed horizontal support, a brush frame pivotally suspended from said support, said brush frame including spaced parallel bars with a rotary brush mounted the ebetween at one end of said frame; an upwar 1y concave shield carried between said bars and disposed over said rotary brush and forming a splash plate for matter thrown thereagainst by said brush, said plate having at a lower side edge a trough-like portion and flexible conduit means connected, to said portion for conducting away such matter.

3. In a machine of the character described, a substantially fixed horizontal support, a brush frame pivotally suspended from said support, said brush frame including spaced parallel bars This also makes for bet-' is not available for with a rotary brush mounted therebetween at one end of said frame, a bolt extending upwardly from one of said bars, a compression spring surrounding said bolt and engaging said horizontal support, said spring counteracting the weight of said brush and tending to force said brush upwardly, an upwardly concave shield carried between said bars and disposed over said rotary brush and forming a splash plate for mat-' terthrown thereagainst'by said brush, said plate having at a lower side edge a trough-like portion and flexible conduit means connected to said portion for conducting away such matter.

4. In a machine of the character described, a substantially fixed horizontal support, a, brush frame pivotally suspended from said support, said brush frame including spaced parallel bars with a rotary brush mounted therebetween at one end of said frame, an upwardly concave shield carried by said bars and disposed over said rotary brush and forming a splash plate for matter thrown thereagainst' by said. brush, said plate having an edge extending substantially parallel to the axis of said brush, said edge being bent to form a trough like portionand flexible conduit means connected to said portion for conducting away such matter. p

' 5. In a machine .of the character described, a substantially fixed horizontal support, a brush frame pivotally suspended from said support, said brush irame'including spaced parallel bars vwith a rotary brush mounted therebetween at,

one end of said frame an'upwardly concave shield carried between said bars and disposed over said rotary brush and forming a splash plate for matter thrown thereagainst by said brush. said plate having at a lower side edge a trough-like portion and flexible conduit means connected to said portion for conducting away such matter, there being counter-balancing means attached to one of said bars, to counteract the weight of said brush and a handle at tached to one of said bars to move said brush.

' VICTOR C. SNYDER. 

